Iceland: New images of Fagradalsfjall's volcanic eruption

Reykjavik, Iceland: A volcano in southwest Iceland erupted Wednesday, August 3, 2022, the country's meteorological authorities said _ just eight months after its last eruption officially ended.

Onlookers watch as lava flows from the vulcano in Fagradalsfjall.

The eruption in an uninhabited valley is not far from Keflavik Airport, Iceland's international air traffic hub. The airport remained open and no flights were disrupted.

Scientists had anticipated an eruption somewhere on the peninsula after a series of earthquakes over the past week indicated volcanic activity close to the crust.

The 2021 eruption in the same area produced spectacular lava flows for several months. Hundreds of thousands people flocked to see the spectacular sight.

Iceland, located above a volcanic hotspot in the North Atlantic, averages an eruption every four to five years.

The most disruptive in recent times was the 2010 eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano, which sent clouds of ash and dust into the atmosphere, interrupting air travel for days between Europe and North America because of concerns the ash could damage jet engines.

More than 100,000 flights were grounded, stranding millions of passengers.

Onlookers arrive to watch as lava flows.

An onlooker with a smartphone takes a video of lava flowing from the volcano.

A photo taken August 7, 2022 shows lava flowing from the vulcano in Fagradalsfjall, Iceland, around 40 kilometres from the capital Reykjavik, following an eruption that has been ongoing since August 3, 2022.

A photo taken on August 6, 2022 shows lava flowing from the vulcano in Fagradalsfjall, Iceland, around 40 kilometres from the capital Reykjavik, following an eruption that has been ongoing since August 3, 2022.

Onlookers (bottom) watch as lava flows from the vulcano.

A photo taken on August 7, 2022 shows lava spewing out at the vulcano in Fagradalsfjall, Iceland, around 40 kilometres from the capital Reykjavik, following an eruption that has been ongoing since August 3, 2022.